Traveling light dilemma (Page 2): I have taken trips of similar length to Europe, SE Asia and Indonesia minus the wedding. I take one pair of shoes, practical walking shoes with Vibram...

berchman Loc: South Central PA

RainierView wrote:

I said all this to make the point we will be going here and there with only a carry-on roller bag and a small backpack each. I'm 70 and can't be hauling heavy suitcases all over. We normally do not travel light so this is a big challenge. We will be cramming clothes for; the wedding, hiking on glaciers, and temps in the 70s, in the carry-on bag and backpack along with other necessities.

I have taken trips of similar length to Europe, SE Asia and Indonesia minus the wedding. I take one pair of shoes, practical walking shoes with Vibram soles, the ones I'm wearing. I take one pair of pants in a dark olive color that doesn't show dirt, the ones I'm wearing. My underwear that I wash in the bathroom sink is the dry overnight kind I get from TravelSmith. A small ThinkTank backpack carries my two Fuji X-T2 bodies, one with an 18-135, the other with a 12mm. It also carries an Epson P6000 for backup. My wife keeps breaking her promise to pack less, so her roller carryon weighs a ton, but even though I'm 80, I lift weights twice a week, so I can haul the luggage up train steps. If I had to dress for a wedding, I guess I'd stuff both my wife's and my own wedding suit and shoes into the space left over in my carryon because shipping them costs a fortune.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

RainierView wrote:

I think you are right. I can eliminate a shirt and... (show quote)

This was taken with a cell phone.

suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ

I can't imagine going on a trip like this, a trip of a lifetime and taking only a cell phone. I know I would regret it. On the other hand you don't want to hauling around something bulky. I would be taking my mirrorless camera with 2 small prime lenses of which one would be wide and one would be "normal" length. That would cover most of your needs inside and out. And if possible I would fit them in a waist pack with extra batteries and memory cards. You could always buy the equipment used and resell it when you got home. A Sony a6000 comes to mind or an Olympus perhaps. Have a wonderful trip!

deer2ker Loc: Nashville, TN

Or you could rent a smaller mirrorless or one of the better point and shoots! Very inexpensive and gives you what you need for the trip - Still making sure that you carry several smaller memory cards. I recommend Lensrental as I have used them and was very happy. This will also give you the chance to try out a new camera! (but definitely purchase the insurance)

whwiden

If you are satisfied with the quality you get from the 18-200 lens, then take that--I might consider a normal prime for low light as an addition. But otherwise, go light. Maybe a disk with a built in card reader to back up?

StevenG Loc: Long Island, NY

RainierView wrote:

My wife and I have our airline tickets traveling i... (show quote)

I took a Viking River Cruise last year, and was away for nearly three weeks. At the time I was 71. With your trip (which sounds marvelous) there will be much more packing and unpacking. This can be very strenuous. I suggest you take as little as possible, and plan on doing a laundry somewhere along the way. As for camera equipment, I travel with my Canon 60D and Tamron 18-270. (I have taken four European trips with this equipment.) This lens, and your 18-200 are clearly compromises. That being said, I only travel with one lens, which works well for me. The only difficult shots are nighttime and inside dark cathedrals. I do these hand held with high ISO and take care of noise in processing. Personally, I prefer this to a cell phone.
Have a great trip!
Steve

repleo Loc: Boston

RainierView wrote:

My wife and I have our airline tickets traveling i... (show quote)

Rainierview. You are going to some of the most beautiful places on earth. You will absolutely regret if you don't bring a decent camera. Your 18-200 is made for a trip ike that. However, I agree with the suggestion to ship your wedding gear to the venue. You might also consider shipping your winter gear home from Iceland. I think you are being seriously overambitious thinking you can manage for three weeks with just a carry on bag. Check Rick Steves for packing advice.

Passignano sul Trasimeno may be a little dull but it is a great base for driving day trips. Cortona, Assisi, Spello, Montepulciano, are all 'must see' towns for a photographer and the Val d'Orcia and Crete Senesi are spectacular in the evenings. They are all easy trips from Trasimeno. We spent a week touring the area last April from a base in Todi to the south.
Some of my pics are posted here:
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-496989-1.html
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-493139-1.html
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-475826-1.html
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-460233-1.html
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-457164-1.html

Enjoy your trip and post pics when you get back.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Too bad you don’t have a m4/3 camera like an em10ii or gx85...I’ve got a 12-32 compact lens I’d loan ya.

peterg Loc: Santa Rosa, CA

RainierView wrote:

Trying to cut down weight and volume, I'm debating taking my DSLR and only my 18-200 lens, or just using my cell phone. But I think I'd be kicking myself when there without my camera. This trip is breaking the bank so can't invest much in a good small pocket camera, if there is one better than a cell phone. if I take my camera is there any way to backup photos if only taking small tablet (if it fits), not a laptop.

Newer smartphones that can create RAW photos can make very good photos which can be made better via post processing in the phone or computer. Transferring photos to a tablet (e.g. iPad) is easy. If you don't have that smartphone, a good pocketable camera would be similar in price. I recently traveled with a Sony RX100m3 which was ideal in size and picture quality. Others make similar cameras. Transferring to an tablet is easy with an SD card adapter. A slightly larger option is a mirrorless with a couple of lenses. Investment is larger and space saved compared with your DSLR would probably not be worth the investment.

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

I don't think you'll be happy with just your cell phone. Went to Maine for a weekend with my cell only. Too bad I didn't have a nickel for every time I said,"$&@?, I wish I had my big girl camera!" Take an all purpose lens and pick up a 24mm prime

peterg Loc: Santa Rosa, CA

mizzee wrote:

I don't think you'll be happy with just your cell phone. Went to Maine for a weekend with my cell only. Too bad I didn't have a nickel for every time I said,"$&@?, I wish I had my big girl camera!" Take an all purpose lens and pick up a 24mm prime

For convenience and size, the iPhone can make good photos. But, its fixed focal length lens and aperture limits your creativity. I'd get one of several high-quality cameras that you can fit in your pocket.

Ava'sPapa Loc: Cheshire, Ct.

I just purchased a Nikon A900 refurbished from Adorama for $214 (normally around $400) that I think would serve you very well. It has a 35X lens. I believe
it's 24-840. It's compact and it has manual,shutter and aperture priorities. So far it's a wonderful little camera that takes up very little room. I'd probably take along my D610 and Tamron 24-70 f2.8, but the A900 would be a nice light substitute. Good luck.

Ava'sPapa Loc: Cheshire, Ct.

I just purchased a Nikon A900 refurbished from Adorama for $214 (normally around $400) that I think would serve you very well. It has a 35X lens. I believe
it's 24-840. It's compact and it has manual,shutter and aperture priorities. So far it's a wonderful little camera that takes up very little room. I'd probably take along my D610 and Tamron 24-70 f2.8, but the A900 would be a nice light substitute. Good luck.

sloscheider Loc: Minnesota

RainierView wrote:

My wife and I have our airline tickets traveling i... (show quote)

It could be worthwhile to stop by a pawn shop to see what's there. One near me has a Lumix 4/3 camera with the kit zoom lens for $175 and a Sony Nex-3n with stock 16-50 lens for $125 both are 2013 vintage, have larger sensors, give you a basic zoom and will outperform any cellphone. That said, I use my iPhone about equally when I'm traveling just for convenience and it will focus at about a 3" distance for some really cool shots.

regularguy55

Great itinerary for great photo ops...I would not want to miss out because of a cell phone compromise. Many options; with all you are doing I would choose a good quality point and shoot or bridge camera. There are many out there. I am a believer in a handy small camera compromise is better than a large bulky camera that “I may not have with me.” Enjoy the trip and keep a good camera with you at all times...won’t regret it.